At the last meeting on this DA on 14 /9/09, the council passed a motion that the matter be deferred pending further advice and discussion with DIER.
Discussion at tonight’s meeting was very tame.
In my opinion, only three of the nine councillors who spoke to the motion contributed much to the debate – some contradicting others on what I would consider to be facts.
Speaking against the motion approving the bypass (which was moved by Cr. Paul Chatterton and seconded by Cr. David Grace), Cr. Peter Lindsay said that Kingborough must face up to the need for an integrated transport system. If public transport is to become an accepted way of life, we must make it more difficult to use cars, not easier. It is quite clear that we must look 60 or 70 years ahead and consider carbon emissions and dwindling resources, yet there has been no discussion on strategies to get cars off the road. Instead we have been landed with a fait accompli, he said.
In foreshadowing a motion, Cr. Lindsay said that after the council elections, he would move that the council request DIER to delay construction until a comprehensive report on transport strategy could be considered.
Speaking in support of the bypass, Cr. Michele Higgins agonised over being caught in a no-win situation. A poison chalice, an all-or-nothing situation, she said.
She was stunned by DIER’s contempt for the council’s planning staff who had worked diligently to obtain improved conditions for local residents who would be affected by noise.
Cr. Flora Fox echoed Cr. Higgins’ concerns and noted that the council was being forced to consider a package worth $42 million. It would have been good to have been able to consider other solutions.
According to Cr. Fox, conditions relating to heritage and vegetation had been removed, resulting in a watered down DA which the council would find difficult to enforce.
Matters canvassed by other speakers (Crs. Bush, Grace, Helen Lindsay, McGinniss, Buchan and Chatterton – Mayor Bury, Deputy Mayor Wass and Cr.Sommerville did not speak) included
– the need to get more shoppers into Kingston;
– the need to keep cars out of Kingston;
– the triggering of setback discretions;
– $42 million not being a lot of money to build a (2km) road;
– $42 million would subsidise a lot of busses
– traffic from the lower Channel is the problem, and
– the belief that DIER will stick to the rules and solve our problems.
As I’ve said elsewhere on TT, Here, this bypass is a political project, pushed by politicians, for the benefit of politicians wanting to look good by doing something.
Anything?
Such is life in Tasmania.
John Maddock
